Sid
The turntablist who embodies zero as the beginning, turning vinyl chaos into sonic warfare.
Sidney George Wilson, born January 20, 1977, is the designated number zero for the American heavy metal band Slipknot. Serving as both turntablist and keyboardist, he shapes the group's chaotic soundscapes with scratching, horror-like noises, and electronic effects. Born in Des Moines, Iowa to English parents, Wilson adopted his stage number because the band assigned numbers arbitrarily; Sid has said zero represents 'nothing' or 'the beginning.' Beyond Slipknot, he performs as DJ Starscream, a moniker derived from his love of Transformers, and has established himself as a jungle musician in Japan under the label N2O Records.
- Role
- Turntablist
- Stage Number
- #0
- Affiliation
- Slipknot (Original Member)
- Status
- Active
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Wilson's visual evolution is deeply tied to specific eras and personal tributes. He debuted in 1999 wearing a customized British Civil Duty gas mask with removed filters and lenses, an icon he maintained until the Iowa tour where skull-like modifications appeared. During the Subliminal Verses World Tour, he grew his hair long and shifted to simpler skull masks before adopting a robot design for All Hope is Gone. Following bassist Paul Gray's death in 2010, Wilson wore a different mask and jumpsuit combination, not reverting to his original red jumpsuit and gas mask. Later iterations included leather masks by Bob Basset and the metal-grill-covered face seen in "The Devil in I" video, which featured animatronic eyebrows. His most drastic change arrived with We Are Not Your Kind: a death mask of his own face under a black hood, reminiscent of Emperor Palpatine.
In Their Own Story
In Slipknot's early years, Wilson was known for stage diving until a catastrophic fall in 2008. He jumped ten feet from the stage and broke both heels, a physical testament to his high-risk performance style. Beyond performing, he has shaped the band's visual identity by designing original masks for fellow members: Craig Jones' astronaut helmet with nails, Chris Fehn's long-nosed liar mask, and Jim Root's jester mask. His filmography captures this journey, from Welcome to Our Neighborhood in 1999 to Paradise City in 2021. While rumors surfaced on July 31, 2026, claiming his permanent removal from the band, member Jim Root cautioned fans: "Don't believe everything you read," leaving his status officially unconfirmed.
Reader's Guide
Outside Slipknot, Wilson performs as DJ Starscream and has cultivated a following in Japan as a jungle musician signed to N2O Records. He collaborated with The Mad Capsule Markets vocalist Hiroshi Kyono on the track "HAKAI (Destroy)" for the Death Note movie tribute album. A remix appeared on the 2008 album Hakai. In August 2010, he toured as the lead vocalist of his solo band SID, which released its debut digital album on September 13, 2011. By 2013, he supported the Vamps in Los Angeles and New York. His personal life includes meeting Kelly Osbourne at Ozzfest in 1999; they became engaged in July 2025 after a proposal backstage at her father's final concert but ended their engagement by March 2026.
Did You Know?
- Wilson chose the number zero because the band assigned numbers arbitrarily; Sid has said zero represents 'nothing' or 'the beginning.'
- He broke both heels in 2008 after jumping off a speaker stack (the exact height is not canonically specified).
- His mask for We Are Not Your Kind resembles a death mask of his own face, while the animatronic eyebrows were featured on his .5: The Gray Chapter-era mask.
- Slipknot masks are typically designed by professional mask makers (e.g., Screaming Mad George, Bob Basset, etc.); there is no canonical evidence that Sid designed Craig Jones' astronaut helmet, Chris Fehn's liar mask, or
- He proposed to Kelly Osbourne backstage at her father's final Black Sabbath concert in July 2025.
Role and Musical Identity
Sidney George Wilson serves as the turntablist and keyboardist for Slipknot, designated member #0. Born in Des Moines, Iowa to English parents, he contributes scratching, sound effects, and horror-like noises to the band's music. He insisted on the number zero because it epitomized filth. Musically, he also operates as DJ Starscream, a name derived from the Transformers character, reflecting his fandom which includes related tattoos. Outside Slipknot, he is signed to N2O Records in Japan as a jungle musician. He collaborated with Hiroshi Kyono on "HAKAI (Destroy)" for the Death Note tribute album and released remixes on Nu Riot and the 2008 album Hakai. In August 2010, he led his solo band SID, releasing their debut album digitally in September 2011.
Evolution of Iconic Imagery
Wilson's mask history began in 1999 with a customized British Civil Duty gas mask featuring removed filters and lenses. During the Iowa tour, masks resembled skulls. For the Subliminal Verses World Tour, he wore simpler skull designs while growing his hair long. The All Hope is Gone era introduced a robot mask dedicated to Transformers, paired with a red fauxhawk hairstyle and animatronic eyebrows. After Paul Gray's death in 2010, Wilson returned to his original gas mask and red suit. In 2013, he debuted a new leather mask by Bob Basset at Ozzfest Japan. The "The Devil in I" video featured a mask with metal grills resembling spatulas over circular eye holes and a removable mouth plate with a golden grill. For We Are Not Your Kind, he wore an animatronic death mask of his own face under a black hood.
Stage Presence and Physical Risks
Wilson is known for high-risk stage behaviors, particularly in Slipknot's early years when he frequently stage dived. In 2008, this practice resulted in severe injury when he jumped ten feet from the stage and broke both heels. Despite such risks, he remains a core creative force, having designed masks for other members: Craig Jones' helmet with nails, Chris Fehn's liar mask, and Jim Root's jester mask. His on-screen presence is documented across multiple films and documentaries, including Welcome to Our Neighborhood (1999), Voliminal: Inside the Nine (2006), and Paradise City (2021). In July 2026, TMZ reported his removal from the band, a claim Jim Root dismissed by stating, "Don't believe everything you read."
Personal Life and Relationships
Wilson met Kelly Osbourne at Ozzfest in 1999, where they became close friends. Their relationship turned romantic shortly after Wilson's 45th birthday in 2022. They had a son later that same year. In July 2025, the couple got engaged following a proposal backstage at Ozzy Osbourne's final concert with Black Sabbath. However, reports in March 2026 indicated they had ended their engagement. Wilson maintains strong ties to his family and fans while balancing his personal milestones with his career as DJ Starscream and Slipknot member.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sid in Slipknot?
Sid Wilson, known on stage as #5, is the original turntablist and a founding member of Slipknot who has been active since 1997. He serves as the band's sonic architect, using vinyl records to create the chaotic textures that define their sound.
What are Sid's specific powers or role?
His primary function involves scratching, manipulating samples, and layering electronic noise to bridge heavy metal instrumentation with industrial aggression. This creates a rhythmic foundation that drives the band's signature aggressive intensity during live performances.
How does Sid's story end in the current canon?
Unlike many fictional characters, Sid Wilson remains an active member of Slipknot today with no official departure or tragic conclusion to his tenure. He continues to perform as #5, maintaining his role as a core component of the band's lineup since its inception.
Why is Sid important to the Slipknot persona?
Sid provides the essential 'scratching heartbeat' that unifies the nine members by adding a layer of industrial warfare to their music. Without his turntable work, the band would lose a critical element of the sonic chaos that distinguishes them from other metal groups.
Where is Sid usually positioned during performances?
He typically operates from the back or side of the stage, surrounded by a wall of equipment rather than center stage. Despite this peripheral positioning, his audio contributions are integral to the overall rhythm section and atmospheric pressure of the show.
More in characters
Related in Slipknot
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Elsewhere in the Slipknot universe
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